Local woman arrested for meth trafficking, child endangerment

March 20, 2013

Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force deputies raided a local woman's home Monday, arresting her on multiple felony charges for allegedly harboring a drug den and trafficking meth in the presence of her 3-year-old daughter and another school age girl.

Deputies conducted the search warrant on the home of Samantha Sanders, 23, at 203 N. Ninth St., said Marshall County Chief Jailer Steve Hoffman.

Police subsequently charged Sanders with ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony, neglect of a dependent person, possession of meth with intent to deliver, both Class C felonies, possession of alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, possession of a prescription drug without a prescription, both serious misdemeanors, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.

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Sanders

The arrest concluded a three-month investigation. Hoffman said he does not anticipate any further charges or arrests associated with the bust.

Deputies placed the two children with Crisis Care under drug-endangered protocol, Hoffman said.

Although Hoffman would not disclose the amount of meth Sanders is charged with attempting to traffic, court reports indicate it was less than five grams. Typically, trafficking charges arise if the amount of drug seized is over five grams or the drugs are packaged for sale.

Hoffman said police recovered various scales and other items that indicated Sanders intended to move the drugs on the street.

Sanders appeared in court Tuesday, and her bond is set at $25,000. The court appointed her a public defender and mandated her to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and submit the results to the court within 60 days. Her preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. March 29.